Campaign to save Dales ambulance stations

A campaign group is urging Dales residents to fight against the potential closure of local ambulance stations.

The Facebook page ‘Save your local ambulance stations’ was set up following the proposal by East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to close 16 stations across the county, including Matlock and Bakewell.

The group is appealing for concerned residents to download a petition form from www.emasunison.com in a bid to prevent the closures.

People have until December 17 to take part in a consultation run by EMAS on the proposals.

If the closures go ahead, the service plans to build two new ‘super staions’ in Chesterfield and Derby, with crews based at community ambulance posts.

EMAS chief executive Phil Milligan says the changes would improve reponse times and provide a better service, however many are sceptical about these claims.